Horse racing game



' March 31, '1959 G. L. PAULOS ET AL HORSE RACING GAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 4, 1957 INVENTORS GEORGE 1.. PFIULOS DHNNY M. BFIHLHTISMarch 31, 1959 G. L. PAULOS ET AL 2,879,993

HORSE RACING GAME Filed Sept. 4, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORSDHNNY M; BFIHLFITZIS GEORGE L. PFIULOS WWW Q 6 o I 6 March 31, 1959 ca.-L. PAULOS ET AL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 wig:

INVENTORS GEORGE L PHULOS DFINNY M. BFIHLFITZIS BY v HTTURN March 31,1959 'G. L. PAuLos ET AL HORSE FACING GAME 4 ShetS-Sheet 4 Filed Sept.4, 1957 NVENTORS,

GEORGE PFIULOS DFINNY M. BHHLHTZIS United States Patent 2,879,998 7House RACING GAME George L, Paulos and Danny M. Bahlatzis,

Brdokly'mNX. i

Application September 4,1957, Serial No. 682,031 wa ms. sam

A further object is' to providev mechanical. means for interruptingthemovements of the several race horse fig ures at random so. that thewinner of a heat or race is not-predeterminable. T

A further objectis to provide an electrical means for automaticallyposting the names of the winning race horse -l J, A v I For furthercomprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantagesthereof, reference will be had to the following description andaccompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the'variousnovel features of the inventionrare more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawingsforming' a material part of this disclosure;

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a. gamedeviceembodying the invention.

Fig. ,2' is a top plan view of the device. 7

Fig.3 is an elevational view of the game device in an open position toshow an internal arrangement ofparts.

"Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 4 -4 ofFig. 3.

Fig; 5 is a plan sectional view Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a miniature race horse figure employedin thedevice.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plansectional view taken on lines 7- -7'of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the race track withelectrical'circuitry'shownschematically in'part.

' In Figs. 1 and 2 is shown a rectangular hollow casing 10 which servesas the outer field and game cover. The top andparts of the sides of thecasing are lined with imitation grass paper 11 to simulate a field. Inthe four corners of thecas ing at the top thereof are located fieldtowers 12 which simulate observation platforms. An endless fence.railing 14 is secured near the rim of a generally. oval opening in thetop of thecasing. Within the opening and coplanar with. the top of thecasing are disposed a plurality. of endless .flat trackspacers 16. Each.

simulated race lhorse figuresare carried around a plural taken onlinesS-S ofv 2,879,998 Patented Mar. 31 19 59 is listed the severalnarnes ot the fhorses of the game. Lamps, .23'on the board 22 ,arelocated adjacent the respective names of; theligures 19. These lamps arearranged to light up as each figure crosses the finish position or. line24 markedon the track spacers 16 endless fence railing 2L surrounds thecenter field 20.

' In Fig. 3, the game device is shown in an open position[ The casing10;.pivots on hinge 25 with respect to the baseboard"28 Asnapcatch. 29is provided on the end of the baseboard to. engage areleasable catchelement 30locatedon the bottom edge, of the cover.

In Fig. 6 iSQshownon an enlarged scale a horse andrider figure 19 asemployed in the game device. The

figurejssuppor'ted or' jaflat post 32 which carries a shoe This shoe iswider than' the space 13 so that the shoe rides on the" two adjace'ntendless spacers 16, as

clearly shown in Fig. 4. The outermost shoe 34' of the outer horse andrider 1 9 rides on spacer16' and adjacent spacer 16. Spacer 16f isformed integrally with the top of "the casingat the rim 'ofl'the openingtherein and is surrounded by fence 14, as shown in Fig. 2. Post 32 hasan inwardly bent base portion 36 which is secured to the flexibleleather or rubber belt 38. A plurality of belts 38 are carried 1n twospaced drumsor pulleys 40, 42 7 having grooves in which the beltsarecarried. The drums are mounted-on shafts or spindles 45, 46 as shownin Figs. 3 and 7. A motor 48 energized via an electriccable 50 is gearedto turn drum 42 which in turn rotates the idler spindle 45 in' itsfriction bearing 51. A switch 52 is provided for controlling the motorpower supply circuit. The switch is connected in the circuit of cable 50and has an operating handle .53 accessible atone end of the casing 10.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is shown themeans bywhich the tr.ack.'spacers16.are. supported. Ailat, plate strip 55 is carried ina.,horizontal,.position.at1 the free end of each ofthelrectangularlyU-shapedjarrns57. Spacers 16 are securedto the flat stripsbypins 58 andare held in spaced positions thereby. The arms 57 are supported inchannel plates ,60 and 61. These plates have abutting edges withopposing recesses defining aligned apertures through which the arms 57are passed.

In Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7 isshownthearrangement of the obstacle means forinterrupting the movements of the several figures 19 in their movementsaround the track. An auxiliary endless crossed strap 65 is mounted on adrum portionv 66 having asmaller diameter than drum 42. This strap 65 isengaged on hub 69. The hub rotates spindle 67 on which are mounted vanes70. The straps 38 are formed by lengths of round material joined at theends by. staples or clips 71. The staples and the spaced ends of thestraps provide discontinuities in the smooth surfaces of the strapswhich catch momentarily in the V-shaped notches. of the vanes 70 as thevanes rotate on spindle 67. The straps 38 are caused to slip in thegrooves in drums 40 and 42 so that the movements of the figures. 19

An inner are interrupted in a rather irregular and generallyunpredictable fashion. Spindle 67 is supported in the friction bearing72 and is an idler member for which motor 48 is the drive member.

In order to light the lamps 23 on board 22 there is provided a pair ofbatteries 74 disposed in a case 75 on the baseboard 28. The arrangementof the lamp circuits is shown in Fig. 8. Each of the lamps 23 has oneterminal connected via a wire 76 to a separate terminal 77 on aninsulated post 78. Terminals 77 are respectively connected to terminals79 to which are secured the spring leaf wiper contacts 80. Thesecontacts extend outwardly from post 78 and have twisted free ends whichtouch the metal arms portions 36 of arms 32 supporting figures 19 at thefinish marks or positions 24. Track support arms 57 each carry fixedwiper contacts 82 arranged to touch the arm portions 36 simultaneouslywith the touching of the arm portions by spring contacts 80. Each ofarms 57 is connected electrically to the positive terminal of thebattery assembly 74. The electrical path is from the positive terminal84 of the battery assembly as shown in Fig. 4 to the metal case 75,through channel plate 60 which is in contact with case 75, to all thearms 57 in parallel. Contacts 80 and 82 are bridged by portions of arms57 at the finish positions 24 of the figures 19. The electrical pathcontinues through contacts 80, terminals 79 and 77 and wires 76, tolamps 23. The return circuit continues from lamps 23 through wires 85 incommon to the upright metal bus bar 86. This bus bar is in contact withthe negative terminal or casing of the batteries 74. Bar 86 is insertedinto case 75 and is separated from the metal end 87 by an insulatorwafer 88 as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Contact 82' located on theouter arm 57 is arranged to touch arm 32 of the outer figure 19.

In operation of the device, the several figures lined up at the startingposition S indicated in Fig. 2. The belts 38 are slipped on the pulleysor drums 40, 42 until the figures 19 are lined up. When switch 53 isthrown the motor causes the belts 38 to move the racing figures whichare continuously interrupted by the vanes 70 rotating in a directionopposite to drums 40, 42. The vanes catch in the belt ends momentarilyas described above. As each figure completes its traverse of the trackthe lamp circuit associated with that figure is closed in the finishposition to light the corresponding lamp. The switch 53 can be thrownwhen the first lamp lights to stop the race and indicate the winner. Ifdesired, a more realistic effect can be given to the simulated racetrack by providing a flag 90 and loud-speaker public address assembly 91adjacent the tote board 22 on the center field 20. If desired, thefigures 19 may be those of automobiles, dogs, or other racing models.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to theprecise construction herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims. 1

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A racing game, comprising a hollow casing having a fiat top, said tophaving a generally oval opening therein, a plurality of generally ovalendless spaced tracks formed of insulation material disposedconcentrically within said opening and coplanar with said flat top, eachof said tracks being supported by a U-shaped arm, a support holding saidarms in a coplanar array, a fixed contact secured to each of the arms,an insulated post spaced from said arms and carrying a plurality ofspring contacts extending therefrom toward said arms, a plurality ofracing figures disposed above said flat top, each of said figures beingsupported by a movable L- shaped arm extending through a space btWn two19 are adjacent tracks, said movable arms forming parts of electricalcircuits with said spring and fixed contacts at one position of thefigures on the tracks, a battery and a plurality of lamps in circuitwith said contacts so that the lamps light when the figures are in saidposition on the tracks, each of the movable arms being securedrespectively to a flexible smooth belt, said belts being carried on aplurality of spaced drums driven rotatably by a motor to move the armsand figures around the tracks, each of the belts having a discontinuityin the smooth surface thereof, another belt mounted on one of the drumsand a hub spaced therefrom, and a plurality of vanes having notchestherein carried on said hub, said vanes being disposed to catch saidendless belts momentarily at the discontinuities therein to causeslippage and arrest the movements of the figures driven by the arrestedbelts.

2. A racing game, comprising a hollow casing having a flat top, said tophaving a generally oval opening therein, said opening having an endlesstrack formed of insulation material at the rim thereof, a plurality ofgenerally oval endless spaced tracks formed of insulation material anddisposed concentrically within said opening and coplanar with said flattop, each of said tracks being supported by an arm, a support holdingsaid arms in a fixed coplanar array, a fixed contact secured to each ofthe arms, an insulated post spaced from said arms and I carrying aplurality of leaf spring contacts extending therefrom toward said arms,a plurality of racing figures disposed above said fiat top, each of saidfigures being supported by a movable metal L-shaped arm extendingthrough a space between two adjacent tracks, each of the movable armscarrying a shoe to stabilize the figure on the adjacent tracks, saidmovable arms forming parts of electrical circuits with said spring andfixed contacts at one position of the figures on the tracks, a batteryand a plurality of lamps in circuit with said contacts so that the lampslight when the figures are in said position on the tracks, each of themovable arms being secured respectively to a flexible, smooth, endlessbelt, said belts being carried on a plurality of spaced drums drivenrotatably by a motor to move the movable arms and figures around thetracks, each of the belts having a discontinuity in the smooth surfacethereof, another belt mounted on one of the drums and a hub spacedtherefrom, said belt being crossed to rotate the hub in a directionopposite to the direction of rotation of said one drum, and a pluralityof vanes having notches therein carried on said hub, said vanes beingdisposed to catch said endless belts momentarily at the discontinuitiestherein to cause slippage and arrest the movements of the figures drivenby the arrested belts.

3. A racing game, comprising a hollow casing having a pivotally attachedhinged bottom baseboard and a flat top, said top having a generally ovalopening therein, said opening having an endless track formed ofinsulation material at the rim thereof, a plurality of generally ovalendless spaced tracks formed of insulation material and.

disposed concentrically within said opening and coplanar with said fiattop, each of said tracks being supported by a U-shaped metal arm, anelectrically conductive support holding said arms in a coplanar array, afixed contact secured to each of the arms, an insulated post spaced fromsaid arms and carrying a plurality of leaf spring contacts extendingtherefrom toward said arms, a plurality of racing figures disposed abovesaid flat top, each of said figures being supported by a movableL-shaped arm extending through a space between two adjacent tracks, eachof the movable arms carrying a shoe to stabilize the figure on theadjacent tracks, said movable arms forming parts of electrical circuitswith said spring and fixed contacts at one position of the figures onthe tracks, a battery and a plurality of lamps in circuit with saidcontacts, arms and support so that the lamps light when the figures arein said one position on the tracks, each ,5 of the movable am: beingsecured respectively to a flexible smooth, endless belt, said beltsbeing carried on a plurality of spaced drums driven rotatably by a motorto move the movable arms and figures around the tracks, said belts beingdisposed in grooves in the drums, each of the belts having adiscontinuity in the smooth surface thereof, another belt mounted on oneof the drums and a hub spaced therefrom, said belt being crossed torotate the hub in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation ofsaid one drum, and a plurality of vanes having notches therein carriedon said hub, said vanes being disposed to catch said endless beltsmomentarily at the discontinuities therein to cause slippage and arrestthe menments of the figures driven by the arrested belts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,947,608 May Feb. 20, 1934 2,406,481 Thatsch Aug. 27, 1946 2,526,215Florimont Oct. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 510,715 Belgium May 15, 1952

